SPEEDY DIALOGUE SERIES- EPISODE 11. WITH RANJIT KARIYAWASAM

SPEEDY DIALOGUE SERIES- EPISODE 11. WITH RANJIT KARIYAWASAM

Speedy: Good morning, Ranjit. I have to get used to calling you Ranjit after years of calling you Kari!

Ranjit: No worries, Speedy! Do people still call you Speedy, or do they use your proper name, Mahendra?

Speedy: They use both! For this interview, I don’t mind if you call me Speedy.

Ranjit: As you wish, Speedy.

Speedy: Thanks, Ranjit. Let us get down to it. We met after a long lapse of time in London for a mini reunion gathering in Gants Hill on the 7^th of September 2024 to welcome Chira Jayaweera Bandara, congratulate her daughter Anjali on gaining her Fellowship in Ophthalmology, and wish them both well. The venue was the Mandarin Palace, a plush Chinese restaurant. Chira was in the UK to attend the award ceremony for the fellowship graduation.

(link for London meeting in blog:Reunion gathering-in-london-to-greet-chirasri.html#comment-form

Ranjit: Yes, I recall it very well. I came with my wife Hemanthi, and after the meal, we took Chira back to our house in Essex.

Speedy: And we met again on the 4th of July 2025 at the iconic Royal Society of Medicine in London at a mini-reunion organised by Pram.

Pram's RSM meeting with R and Hemanthi

Ranjith: Yes, Speedy. That was my first attendance of Pram’s London reunions.

Speedy: That’s right, and recently, Chira and I were chatting on WhatsApp, and she told me about your skills as a sculptor, and she sent me some photographs of your work. This was a total surprise, and I was amazed at your skill!

Ranjit: Thanks, Speedy. I am flattered that you thought they were good

Speedy: Good? More than that, I thought they were outstanding for an amateur! Chira suggested that I should post them on the blog and I got the idea that the best way to do this is through my “Speedy Dialogue” which I have done for many of our batchmates.

Ranjit: I have seen your interviews, and we must thank you for your efforts.  I am only too happy to consent to one if you think it will be appreciated.

Speedy: Great! We shall do it, and please send me more photographs of your work. Let us start by discussing some background material.

Ranjit: Fine by me.

Speedy: Good. We were in the same 1962 batch, and I always remember you as a rather shy person with spiky hair combed backwards, wearing specs, and riding a red Moto Guzzi bike! I hope you approve of my constructed image with you on your Moto Guzzi

Ranjit: That virtual image is pretty good, Speedy! I don’t know about being shy! Yes, I was very fond of my motorbike. Many others had red Moto Guzzis, as you know, Speedy.

Speedy: Indeed. Nalin Nanayakkara, Ranjit Dambawinna, who else?

Ranjit: Yes, Ranjit Dambawinna did have one before he sold it and bought a Volkswagen Beetle.

Speedy: I can remember that Beetle car. My father and Ranjit D’s father were friends, and I knew Ranjit before he entered the Faculty.

Speedy: Let's move on Ranjit. As you know, I eventually came and settled down in England. What was your path? And, when did you get married to lovely Hemanthi?

Ranjit: We met at the Medical College in the Pharmacy Dept in my final year. She was a final-year pharmacy student then. We both got our first appointments at Badulla General Hospital (my internship). In May 1969, I got married to Hemanthi. Then we both got appointments at Mulleriyawa Hospital and did Psychiatry there for another two years. Then, Hemanthi started work at LRH.

Speedy: And then you came to England?

Ranjit:  Yes. I arrived in England in 1974 and started life as a senior house officer at Battle Hospital in Reading, UK. Then moved to Ramsgate Hospital. From there, Beaumont Hospital in Lancaster. When I obtained my MRCP. I moved back to the South of England, to Battle Hospital.

Speedy: I understand you worked with Ranjit Dambawinna. How did that happen?

Ranjit. After working in hospitals up to that time, I decided to join general practice, as I wanted a stable residence to give my two sons a better education. Following one year’s training, I joined Ranjith Dambawinna’s group Practice as a partner in Grays, Essex.

Speedy: What happened after that?

Ranjit: After a few years, I started my own Practice and carried on until my retirement in 2008.

Speedy: Moving on to your family, I met your wife Hemanthi at a Batch Reunion. I gather you have two sons. Are they doctors too?

Ranjit: No, they were wiser! My elder son is Adisha, a lecturer at BPP University (one of the UK's leading Law Schools) in Business and Project Management, and an Awards Leader.

My younger son is Rukshan, who works as Head of Housing Assets and Capital Management in Ealing Council. 

Speedy: You must be super proud of them! Thank you, and now, going back to your skills as a sculptor, could you tell us how it all started? How old were you when you did your first, and who and what influenced you?

Ranjit: I was really interested from my childhood.

Speedy: Did you have any training in sculpture?

Ranjit: No, I did not have any training or lessons. It was a natural talent

Speedy: Most interesting. I thought your father may have influenced you?

Ranjit: No, my father was not into sculpture.

Speedy: What material do you use, and do you have a workshop?

Ranjit: I use gypsum, concrete, cement, paper pulp, wires, glue and sometimes ripped old cloth and ribbons. I haven't got a workshop as such but use the spare room (which is a converted Garage)

Speedy: With your busy life as a doctor, how did you manage to continue with your interest to this day?

Ranjit: After my retirement, I limited my work to a few locum sessions a week and had more free time. So I started doing sculpture work.  I was keen and enjoyed it. My main interest was in objects related to a Buddhist background. I am happily settled down in Grays, Essex and my wife supports me and encourages me.

Speedy: A supportive wife is an undoubted asset!

Ranjit: Absolutely! She helps in so many ways with my sculpture work, especially in cleaning and tidying!

Speedy: Let us discuss some of your work. Which is the sculpture you are most proud of?

Ranjit: My best sculpture is the Bo tree that I did at Thames Buddhist Vihara in Croydon in the year 2002. I am grateful to my wife, who made around 900 bo-shape leaves and painted them to give a natural look, and also to my son Adisha, who painted the tree and the background scene. 

Speedy: It looks beautiful, and I must visit it one day. Are you an artist too?

Ranjit: No, Speedy. I am not a great artist, but just a keen sculptor.

Speedy: I am showing some more examples of your sculptures. I have two pictures, each showing two sculptures. The first one shows a sister reading to a brother, and the second an elephant. The next one shows a magnificent statue in a garden, and the second shows a violinist and an accordionist.

Ranjit: Yes, they gave me immense pleasure and satisfaction.

Speedy: I'd like to show readers a few more exquisite examples of your work. They truly are magnificent.

Ranjit: Thanks, Speedy.

Speedy: How important is your hobby to you, and do you have any advice for colleagues on the importance of having a hobby?

Ranjit: It keeps me from getting bored and also gives me immense pleasure when I look at the finished product. Not only me, but many others appreciate it too. It is indeed a very satisfying hobby. I too like music like you, but sculpture is my favourite. As we get older, it is so important to have creative hobbies. You, Speedy, have music and art among other things, and I have my sculpting. I would encourage all my colleagues to indulge in at least one hobby that they enjoy. Enjoy is the key word; good or not is by the way!

Speedy: I agree with you entirely Ranjit. As you said, I am fond of drawing and music, and these many interests have given me sanity and, fortunately, not vanity!.... I hope!

Ranjit: We admire your talents and do keep at it, and please share your work as you have done. The blog that Lucky started and that you maintain is a great way to share.

Speedy: Thank you, Ranjit. I am always pleased to share the talents of our Batchmates. Chira, Yankee Bala, Suri, Srianee(Bunter), Nihal (ND) are just a few who have contributed. Please continue your interest, and I am very grateful to you for agreeing to be interviewed.

Ranjit: My pleasure, Speedy, and thanks for inviting me.

Speedy: Any final words from you Ranjit?

Ranjit: Just to say thank you for giving me a chance to show my hard work that keeps me going at my age in reasonable health.

Speedy: And that concludes another Speedy Dialogue

In Loving Memory of Dr Anthony Doss

In Loving Memory of Dr Anthony Doss

By Nihal D Amerasekera

Dr Anthony Jayasingh Doss was born on June 10, 1940, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and passed away peacefully on December 10, 2023, at the age of 83, at Deer Meadows Nursing Home in Abingdon, Virginia.

A dedicated physician and community psychiatrist, Dr Doss devoted decades of his life to serving the people of Southwest Virginia. His career was defined by compassion, commitment, and a deep belief in providing quality medical and psychiatric care to communities where it was needed most.

Dr Doss earned his medical degree from the University of Ceylon in 1967. He later travelled to the United States to pursue his psychiatric residency at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens, New York. During his residency, he met his first wife, Mary, beginning the first chapter of the Doss family's life in America.

Following his residency, Dr Doss initially served as an attending physician in Hazard, Kentucky. As he explored the surrounding region, he was drawn to Southwest Virginia and ultimately chose to settle in Marion, where his commitment to community medicine took root.

He established a medical practice in Chilhowie, Virginia, providing much-needed medical and psychiatric services to a rural community with limited access to local physicians. His dedication to his patients and his willingness to serve wherever he was needed made him a valued member of the community. Over the years, his practice expanded to Bristol, Virginia, where he continued caring for generations of patients and families.

Dr Doss and Mary were blessed with three children: daughter Princy and twin sons Manoj and Vinodh. His youngest son, Danny, was born during the family's time in Bristol. Dr Doss lived in both Marion and Bristol during his years in Southwest Virginia, building not only a medical practice but also a life deeply rooted in family and community.

After retiring from medicine, Dr Doss enjoyed spending time with his family, including visits to Canada, and devoted more time to one of his enduring passions—writing. In his later years, he found renewed happiness and companionship after marrying Lucita Chapman.

Dr Doss is survived by his children, Princy Doss (Scott Fullen), Dr Vinodh Doss (Taryn Doss), Dr Manoj Doss (Andrea Doss), and Danny Doss (Eve Burnett); his cherished grandchildren, Vinoj Fullen, Ravit Doss, and Vedha Doss; and his stepson, Chad Chapman. He is also survived by his brother, Dr Arulraj Doss of Montreal, Canada. 

Throughout his life, Dr Doss was guided by compassion, service, intellectual curiosity, and an abiding love for his family. His legacy lives on not only through the many patients whose lives he touched, but also through his children, grandchildren, family, friends, and the communities he served.

Dr Anthony Doss will be remembered with love and gratitude as a devoted physician, a caring father and grandfather, a brother and husband, and a man who dedicated his life to helping others. His life was a testament to compassion, dedication, and the enduring power of family. 

From Sig Book- 1962

Anthony Doss has been an elusive figure since our great dispersal in 1967.  I remember the lithe figure of “Doss”, as we called him then. He was more towards my end of the alphabet. We shared some ward classes and also a few clinical appointments together.  But he never shared in the mischief and rascality that was ever present in those effervescent faculty years, like at the University dances, Law Medical and the memorable Final-year trip. Doss was a refined, calm and sensible person who enjoyed the company of his many pals in the faculty. He was ever present in the Men’s Common Room joining in the chit chat. He breezed through the difficult examinations with consummate ease.

When I was MO/OPD in Kurunegala, through my foolhardiness, I functioned as AJMO and got involved in some court cases. Some of these appearances were at the Magistrates Courts in Puttalam. On one of those visits to Puttalam, I was told that Doss was a GP there, but I could not find or contact him. Doss disappeared completely from our batch radar until we had all become octogenarians. Our many attempts to find him drew a blank.

I was elated to find information about Doss. The news that he has now passed on brought me great sadness, as he was a good friend and a respected colleague for 5 years in the faculty. I will always remember his calm and friendly demeanour. Doss embodied the Japanese proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Some go silently into the night –

walk through the park of our humanity

with breath that parts no air -

steps that bend no grass -

disturbing nothing as they pass.  ---- Anonymous

May his Soul Rest in Peace.

Reunion photo recollections from Srianee (Bunter) Dias

Reunion photo recollections from Srianee (Bunter) Dias

Two collages. You have to guess who they are! Thanks, Srianee.

Negombo 2017

2017 reunion photos of evening function- well worth revisiting. Here is the link:

https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2017/03/batch-reunion-2017-part-6-banquet-and_16.html#comment-form

REUNION RECOLLECTIONS - Kumar Gunawardane

REUNION RECOLLECTIONS

Kumar Gunawardane

The first reunion I attended was in 1992, the twenty-fifth anniversary of our release from the hallowed but restricted haunts of Kynsey Road. My onetime Bloem roommate K (Kumar aka Con) Bala, who was also one of the organisers, invited me to talk on Cardiology Down Under. It was scheduled for the afternoon of the symposium, the pretext for what was really a fete for buddies and comrades. 

The preceding speakers, without exception, had exceeded their time limits, and Mahen asked me to drop my piece de resistance; perhaps a blessing in disguise, as it may have averted the spectacle of both the speaker and the audience falling asleep simultaneously. I rushed off to bed to catch up on sleep in preparation for the bacchanalian fiesta which was to follow. On the way, I was treated to the spectacle of a colleague’s unsuccessful attempts to open his room door. An analogue of the opening scene of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece “Limelight”; the inebriated Calvero (CC) fumbling with his front door lock. 

The summer of 1997 was good; a real summer disputing the calumny that the English winter ends in July and begins in August. The sun shone, the sky was blue with wispy white clouds, and migrant birds twittered in Regent’s Park. The afternoons were long and the evenings cool. Kanthi, her mother and I had arrived for a sojourn in London well before the Reunion to be followed by a tour of Scandinavia. The ladies enjoyed shopping in Oxford Street to the full while I went sightseeing. We had a good look around Windsor too, as we stayed a couple of days there with a good friend. 

The festivities started with a dinner dance. An unusual feature was the separate party for the youths of whom there were many, the offspring of our colleagues. A standout figure was the rotund Razaque whose daughter’s special birthday coincided with our celebrations. He wore a Scottish Highland dress complete with kilt, sporran, hose and flashes, provoking many bawdy comments. The girls looked glamorous in gorgeous sarees, and men were smart and elegantly attired; all seemed untouched by the passage of years. I recall a witty and humorous speech by Ranjith Dambawinna which evoked not only uproarious laughter but also embarrassed giggles. He was particularly savage on some of his close mates in the nicest possible way. The night merged with the trembling dawn before we crawled to our beds drained but joyous. 

The next day we trooped to the seminar as duty had to prevail. The lectures were scholarly, but mostly floated over our befuddled heads. 

There was boundless joy in catching up with old friends, particularly those who had been at school with me like Bora. Both of us had come together to England too and started working in the same hospital. Somehow the anecdotes sounded much better in the retelling; another advantage was that disagreeable memories were either forgotten or very deep in the psyche. There were, of course, newfound friends no less precious. 

The dinner dance on the second night was glittering. Our table had Bora and Harshi, Swyrie and Ken Balendra and the three of us. The conversation was brilliant, the food delicious, the wine free-flowing, and the music melodious. Those who could dance swayed gracefully to the music, but everyone took to the floor when the ‘baila’ session began. 

There were poignant moments too.It was the last time I met our divine confrere Sue R. As always, she was gracious and ethereal. When we hugged goodbye, she remarked wistfully that the Colombo years were a blank, due to the trauma of moving away from Peradeniya. 

It was also the first and last time I met Chandrasiri, since the ‘great dispersal’ of 1962. He had been sponsored by some colleagues for achieving the distinction of becoming the acting Vice-Chancellor of Ruhuna University. Bora and I have previously detailed our close association with him in our final year. This time, however, the emotion was dispassionate. 

My Galle internship mates Chitra and Dharmini were captivating in stylish saris. We hadn’t met since our “leus annees de gloire” in the hamlet of Mahamodera. Chitra had become an acclaimed obstetrician and gynaecologist in NewYork. Her talents were perceived early by our chief, Dr Wilfred Perera; she also benefited from my spraining a wrist, which kept me out of the operating theatre. 

The chief guest was Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda, who lectured to us about forensic medicine and went on to become Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and eventually Vice-Chancellor of the Colombo University. He hailed from Hikkaduwa, the town which produced our own Lucky Abey. 

The professor in our time was the genial, elegant and eloquent H.V.J. Fernando who succeeded the foundation professor G.S.W. De Saram, a giant in his field.

The latter’s most famous case was the Sathasivam murder trial where his evidence was challenged by Sir Sidney Smith who had mentored him in Edinburgh. Kanthi and I were lucky to make the acquaintance of his wife during a long rail journey to Ella. She invited us along with my brother and his wife to high tea at her holiday cottage there. The charm and sophistication of bygone generations arouse a winsome nostalgia. 

All good things must come to an end, and we made our tearful farewells, promising to keep in touch and meet again sooner rather than later. I too resolved to engage as much as possible in future reunions. 

More of those later.

Note from Speedy.

Planned Batch Reunion 60th, in Colombo, 2027.  Pram gave us preliminary notice of a Grand 60th Anniversary Reunion (which I dubbed the "super-sixty-soiree") planned for the 23rd of January 2027 in Colombo. Details will follow.

The first two photos were sent to me by Srianee (Bunter) and the third by Kumar.

And some of the souvenir pages from my post on our Blog, "Batch Reunion in 1992 held at Windsor Holiday Inn in England". Link to the post is, https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2014/04/batch-reunion-in-1992-held-at-windsor.html#comment-form

The scientific programme here is provisional and differs from the final one posted above this

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION: 2026. Organised by Pram

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION: 2026. Organised by Pram

Recollections by Mahendra and Nihal

This took place at the usual venue, The Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street, London, on Monday the 6th of July 2026.

We had a spacious private dining room to ourselves and enjoyed the meal we had chosen from the Menu Pram had previously circulated. (Click on the menu photo if you like a clearer text).

As many of you know, Pram visits London during the Wimbledon Tennis tournament and makes it a point to arrange a meeting of Batchmates and spouses at the RSM. Of course we enjoyed the meal and drinks, but what mattered most was the opportunity to meet and reminisce. It is hard to believe that we "passed out" (while remaining conscious- apart from 65 dear departed colleagues), 60 years ago. Pram gave us preliminary notice of a Grand 60th Anniversary Reunion (which I dubbed the "super-sixty-soiree") planned for the 23rd of January 2027 in Colombo. Details will follow.

It was great to circulate, chat, and finally sit down to enjoy the meal. We had 16 attendees and apologies from a few "usuals" who were sadly unable to attend.

MAHENDRA GONSALKORALE

SUNIL and SIRIMA ABEYSURIYA

NIHAL AMERASEKERA

JIMMY WICKREMASINGHE

PRAMILLA SENANAYAKE

SUSHEILA KANAGASABAI

DHUSHYANTHI  VEDAVANAM

SAKUNTALA BALAKUMAR

NARADA WIJEYATILEKA (senior batch)

LORETTA BALACHANDRAN

ATTALE – SUSIL AND RUPA

HARSHI AND HARSHA BORALESSA

SHRIYANI GEETHA BATUWITAGE

Special mention must be made of the loyal Batch spouses: Sirima, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta, Harshi, Rupa, and Shriyani. They are regular attendees, and it is always a pleasure to meet them and catch up.

Bora, Narada, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta

Loretta, Sirima, Harshi, Sunil, Speedy, Shriyani

Sakuntala, Loretta, Shriyani, Sirima, Pram

Pram, Jimmy, Mahendra (Speedy), Sunil, Nihal (ND)

ND, Jimmy, Narada, Rupa, Speedy, Susheila, Susil, Pram, Sriyani, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta, Bora, Harshi, Sirima, Sunil

I am pleased to add Nihal's account of the event.

Thanks, Mahen, for the photos and the script. I wrote a short account of my recollections of the event. 

In the 1960s, the Faculty of Medicine was the premier institution for the training of medical professionals since its inception in 1870. It started as the Colombo Medical College and is the second-oldest medical school in South Asia. It was an immense honour and privilege to be students in an institution with that long history and heritage. There has always been a certain loyalty, bond and allegiance to this institution hence our regular reunions both in Colombo and in London. 

Naturally, we consider our batch of 1962 so very special. Since so many of us now live in countries other than Sri Lanka, the link to our previous life is through these reunions. Here, we meet people with whom we have had similar experiences, a shared pride in the Faculty. There is a tinge of sadness that the institution doesn’t exist as we knew it and many of our friends who shared our experience are no more. We proudly remember the spectacle of the Law Medical match the Block Night and the eccentricities the final year trip.

When I arrived at 12 midday, a group had already gathered in the plush bar area of the Royal Society of Medicine. It was the welcoming smiles of our organiser Pram that greeted me first. There were hugs, handshakes, smiles, questions and exclamations, "I haven't seen you since"...! Where....? How....? Do you remember...?" After the initial photos we moved to our special room for the lunch. It was a sumptuous lunch of our choice which we all enjoyed with the usual banter recalling our memories of those years learning our trade.

After the lunch there were more photos. The goodbyes took as long as the lunch itself. This was indeed a most enjoyable get-together and our thanks to Pram for planning and organising it so well.

Old Boys and Old Girls Alumni Associations based in the UK

Old Boys and Old Girls Alumni Associations based in the UK. 

Mahendra "Speedy" Gonsalkorale

I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to find that there are over 60 alumni associations based in the UK. The wish to remain connected with your Alma Mater is obviously very strong.

Many of you must belong to these Associations and probably take an active role. Please feel free to point out any errors. The Alumni Associations must have a very varied history.

I wonder whether colleagues in other countries, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, will be able to provide any data.

Major Boys Alumni Associations 

• St. Thomas' College: (OTAUK)
• St. Patrick's College (Jaffna): St Patrick's College, Jaffna, Alumni Association UK
• Jaffna Central College: Jaffna Central College Old Boys & Girls Association UK
• St. John's College & Chundikuli Girls' College: CSJPPA-UK
• Ananda College Old Boys’ Association UK
• D. S. Senanayake College OBA UK
• De Mazenod College Past Pupils Association UK
• Dharmaraja College OBA UK
• Dharmasoka College Alumni Organisation UK (Old Sokians UK)
• Holy Cross College Kalutara OBA UK
• Isipathana College OBA UK
• Kingswood College Kandy OBA UK
• Mahanama College OBA UK
• Mahinda College OBA UK
• Maliyadeva College OBA UK
• Maris Stella College OBA UK
• Methodist Central College Batticaloa OBA UK
• Nalanda College OBA UK (Nalandians Hub UK)
• Prince of Wales' College Moratuwa OBA UK
• Rahula College Matara OBA UK
• Richmond College Galle OBA UK
• Royal College Colombo (Old Royalists Association UK)
• Shivananda Vidyalayam Batticaloa OBA UK
• St. Aloysius' College Galle OBA UK
• St. Anthony's College Kandy OBA UK
• St. Benedict's College OBA UK
• St. Joseph's College Colombo OBA UK
• St. Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa OBA UK
• St. Mary's College Negombo OBA UK
• St. Michael's College Batticaloa OBA UK
• St. Patrick's College Jaffna Alumni Association UK
• St. Peter's College Colombo OBA UK
• St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa OBA UK
• St. Thomas' College Matale OBA UK
• Thurstan College OBA UK
• Trinity College Kandy OBA UK
• Vivekananda College Colombo OBA UK
• Zahira College Colombo OBA UK

Major Girl's Alumni Associations

Colombo Region Schools

• Anula Vidyalaya Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Devi Balika Vidyalaya Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Good Shepherd Convent (Kotahena) Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Holy Family Convent (Bambalapitiya) Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Ladies' College (Colombo) Old Girls' Association UK Branch
• Methodist College Colombo Past Pupils' Charitable Association UK
• Musaeus College Past Pupils’ Association - UK Branch
• Our Lady of Victories Convent (Moratuwa) Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Alumnae UK
• St. Bridget's Convent (Colombo) Past Pupils’ Association UK
• Visakha Vidyalaya Past Pupils’ Association in the UK (VVPAUK) 

Kandy & Central Region Schools

• Girl's High School Kandy. Old Girls' Association UK
• Hillwood College (Kandy) Past Pupils' Association UK
• Mahamaya Girls' College (Kandy) OGA UK 

Southern & North-Western Region Schools

• Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya (Kurunegala) PPA UK
• Sacred Heart Convent (Galle) Past Pupils' Association UK
• Southlands College (Galle) Past Pupils' Association UK [1]

Northern & Eastern Region (Joint & Independent Chapters)

• Chundikuli Girls' College (Jaffna) – Associated under the joint Chundikuli-St. John's PPA UK
• Jaffna Hindu Ladies' College Alumni Association UK
• Vembadi Girls' High School (Jaffna) OGA UK

Why does politics have to pollute sporting events? Srianee Dias

Why does politics have to pollute sporting events?

Srianee Dias

Mirra Andreeva won the women’s singles title at the French Open yesterday (6.6.2026).  She is Russian but was competing as a ‘neutral’ athlete.  She reached the finals after defeating Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine in the semifinals.  After losing the match, Kostyuk ignored Andreeva and walked over to shake the umpire’s hand.  She chose to play against Andreeva, but like several other Ukrainian players, chose not to shake the hand of her Russian opponent.  It is difficult these days to entirely eliminate politics from sports, but it is my opinion that when players choose to compete in an event, they should act graciously towards their opponents in a sportsmanlike fashion.  The athletes are not responsible for the political conflict. 

In the finals, Mirra Andreeva defeated Maja Chwelinska of Poland 6-3, 6-2 to claim the title. She was congratulated warmly by Chwelinska.  Andreeva is only 19 years old, and this is her first Grand Slam title, although she won two major championships in 2025.  She is the youngest winner of the French Open since Monica Seles won in 1992, when she was 18.  Andreeva has personality, charm and a sense of humour.  She is a refreshing change from grumpy Aryna Sabalenka, who is currently ranked No 1. 

Sabalenka is from Belarus.  She and Andreeva have. been banned from competing in international events under their national flags.  This decision against the Russian and Belarusian athletes was made by the International Tennis Federation in 2022 when it suspended the Russian Tennis Federation and the Belarusian Tennis Association from all 4 major tournaments, as well as team competition (Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup), following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.  To her credit, Sabalenka has not renounced her nationality, unlike some other athletes. I applaud her for that decision, because it probably cost her some lucrative endorsements.  I think it is unfair for hardworking athletes to be penalised for the decisions made by politicians in their respective countries. 

In the past, we’ve seen many similar situations.  South African athletes were prevented from competing in international events for many years because of the South African government’s apartheid policies.  I am told that the Pakistani and Indian cricket players do not shake hands with each other, even though they play against each other. 

The FIFA World Cup is just beginning with matches being held Canada, USA and Mexico.  Iran’s national team, Team Melli, has qualified to play, but the team is being hampered by visa problems being experienced by their players and officials.  I read that Tehran has now arranged for the Iranian team to be based in Tijuana, Mexico rather than in Arizona, USA. 

Sporting events can play a role in bridging the existing hostilities between nations. The athletes are heroes in their home countries.  Any positive experience they have during the competitions will carry over to their fans at home.  

Many athletes have also used their voices and influence outside their sporting careers.  Billy Jean King and Megan Rapinoe have fought for equal pay for female athletes. Wilma Rudolph, Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul Jabbar were very active in the Civil Rights Movement.  Lewis Hamilton has been championing diveristy in F1 racing.  They have that privilege and freedom, but it is my opinion that these activities should be separated from the actual sports competitions.  The sporting events should be confined to the sport, and politics should be set aside during the competitions.